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Bharatiya Janata Party

Delhi's Chhath Puja Row Escalates Between AAP and BJP

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Delhi government of constructing an "artificial Yamuna" with "filtered water" at Vasudev Ghat, a site where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in the Chhath Puja festivities. The BJP has dismissed the allegations, calling them "political drama" and claiming that the opposition is objecting to cleanliness efforts at the riverbank. The tension between the two parties comes amid heightened efforts to woo Delhi's Purvanchali community, which constitutes an estimated four million residents and has emerged as a key vote base in recent years.

Key Takeaways:

  • The AAP has accused the BJP of creating an "artificial Yamuna" with filtered water at Vasudev Ghat, where Prime Minister Modi is expected to participate in Chhath Puja.
  • The BJP has dismissed the allegations, calling them "political drama" and claiming that the opposition is objecting to cleanliness efforts at the riverbank.
  • The AAP has released a video claiming that other ghats have polluted water with high faecal coliform levels, posing health risks for devotees.
  • Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva has accused the former AAP government of banning Chhath Puja on the Yamuna banks between 2018 and 2024.
  • The BJP government has completed basic cleaning of the Yamuna in eight months and made natural ghats available for devotees.
  • The AAP has accused the BJP government of using "defoamer solutions," a practice the BJP had opposed while in opposition.
  • AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has termed the situation "a mockery of the deep religious sentiments attached to Chhath Parv in Delhi."
  • Leader of Opposition Atishi has described the situation as "outright discrimination"

Statistics:

  • Estimated 4 million Purvanchali community residents in Delhi
  • Chhath Puja expected to attract devotees from Delhi, Bihar, and Purvanchal
  • AAP has accused the BJP government of using "defoamer solutions" at Vasudev Ghat
  • High faecal coliform levels reported in Yamuna water at other ghats
  • BJP government claims to have completed basic cleaning of the Yamuna in eight months

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times
  • Aam Aadmi Party Delhi head Saurabh Bhardwaj's press conference
  • Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva's statement
  • AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's post on X
  • Leader of Opposition Atishi's statement

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